Journal of Herbert Edward Pretyman written during his expedition to the Kittar Mountains, between Kenneh (on the Nile) and the Red Sea, 1891

A young lieutenant of the Grenadier Guards chronicles his 1891 trek across Egypt’s stark desert, from the bustling ports of Alexandria and Cairo to the remote Kittar Mountains between the Nile and the Red Sea. His letters capture the clash of military life and high society—ballrooms at Kasr‑el‑Nil, late‑night dinners with senior officers, and the practical grind of arranging camels, maps, and supplies for a four‑day, water‑scarce crossing. The narrative’s immediacy lets listeners feel the chill of winter nights on the overland mail, the excitement of departing for Kenneh, and the hopeful anticipation of the uncharted terrain ahead.

Interwoven with the diary entries are the first photographs ever taken in the Kittar range, accompanied by detailed sketches of desert camps, hidden ravines, and ancient Roman forts. These visual records transform the journal into a rare window on a landscape that was then almost untouched, while the author’s candid voice reveals a blend of duty, curiosity, and the camaraderie of fellow officers. Together they offer an intimate portrait of Victorian exploration, rich with both personal reflection and the raw beauty of a far‑off frontier.